Artist's Statement:
As a potter who is relatively new on the wheel, when I started making
this vase I wanted to see how large I could throw out of one ball of clay,
no adding. I also wanted to see how small a vase I could throw, and needed
some way of incorporating the two, so I began sticking the little pots
on the big one. After I was half way through with what became the first
"tentacle," I realized I had begun to follow the profile of
the larger vase with little pots. The flowing movement made me think of
marching in line, and I decided to make them march into the distance by
having them grow smaller and smaller towards the lip. When I was finished
I saw that I had not at all made the piece, it had made its self using
my hands and thus the Octopot was born. Now when I look at it I
see it as a tribute to folk potters all over the world whose kiln yards
are filled with hundreds and hundreds of identical pots lying around in
wait, all the pots that are created after the feeling of accomplishment
from the first successful piece. Also, each pot one makes is made from
the mistakes and achievements learned from many.